Ellsworth wrestlers qualify for state

Ellsworth Bearcat wrestlers Bradley Vopat, 160 lbs., and Will Donley, 113 pounds, each won third place in their respective weight class at the regional wrestling tournament in Hillsboro. They advanced to the state competition Feb. 26 at Hays.

Lanning takes fifth at girls’ state wrestling

EJSHS wrestler Sierra Lanning secured a fifth-place medal at the Girls’ 4-1A State Wrestling Tournament in Salina Feb. 24.

Oiler basketball teams compete at state

Both the boys’ and girls’ teams brought home championship plaques from the 1A Division II Sub-State game played on their home court March 5 at Claflin.

The Oiler boys’ basketball team fell short in the first round of state championship play March 9, losing to No. 1-seed Hanover, 84-43.

The Central Plains High School Lady Oiler basketball team won their eighth-straight state basketball title March 12 during the Kansas State High School Activities Association’s Girls’ Class 1A Division II championship game against Rexford-Golden Plains at Barton Community College in Great Bend. The final score was 50-38.

With KSHAA celebrating 50 years of Title IX bringing girls’ sports to life, Jackie Stiles, all-time leading scorer for Claflin, former NCAA record-holder and 2001 Women’s National Basketball Association Rookie of the Year, presented the game ball and trophies. Stiles is the daughter of Central Plains Head Coach Pat Stiles, who has a 229-5 coaching record.

Wilson resumes baseball after 10-year absence

The team was young — 12 players consisting of seven freshmen, three sophomores and two juniors. The Dragons lost to Lincoln in a doubleheader in their opening game of the season on March 31, 21-0, 29-7.

“Well, it is not the outcome we wanted tonight,” Coach Ted Long said, “but like I told the boys, this is the first game a lot of them have played in like two years, so it is going to be a learning process for us.”

Ellsworth baseball shines

Bearcat baseball earned the title of league co-champs before heading to the playoffs. The season ended with a 18-4 record when the Bearcats fell to the Larned Indians at Regionals May 18.

Ellsworth Bearcat Senior Dayton Davis was named KABC 3A baseball player of the year and first team 3A All State pitcher.

Turnipseed qualifies for state with javelin throw

EJSHS track and field team member Kylan Turnipseed qualified for state and broke her own school record in the javelin May 19 during the Regional Track and Field Meet at Phillipsburg. Turnipseed threw the javelin 131 feet, 6 inches, to set a new school record and take third at regionals.

The Bearcats’ only other placer at regionals was Byron Johnson, who took sixth in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 10:49.59.

The Bearcat boys’ team took 16th at regionals, while the girls’ team took 12th.

Bearcats, Oilers shine at state track

Track and field team members from both Ellsworth and Central Plains did well May 27-28 during the Kansas State High School Activities Association’s State Track and Field Meet in Wichita. Central Plains’ Lauren Oeser placed second in the javelin with a throw of 132 feet, 6 inches, while Lady Bearcat Kylan Turnipseed placed sixth with a throw of 123 feet, 10 inches. In addition, Oiler Cole Lamatsch placed fifth in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:07.73, and fifth in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:41.92.

Bearcat Track and Field Head Coach Nick Rodriguez said Turnipseed’s throw was her second best of the season.

Oiler tennis coach Bittner retires

Central Plains Tennis Coach Gary Bittner retired after 40 years. A reception was held for him May 29 at the CPHS tennis courts, which were named after him.

Ellsworth adds trap team

The Ellsworth Bearcat Trap Team competed at its first Kansas State High School Clay Target League State Tournament June 18. The team high gun in the junior varsity division was Trenton Hays in 22nd place, and the team high gun in the novice division was Valen Vague in 40th place. It was the first year for the sport at EJSHS, and the members, coached by Tim Hays are: Scott Thomasson, Luke Seitz and Bruce Hyman were Korbin Freeman, Trenton Hays, Valen Vague, Jace Thomasson, Cyrus Grothusen, Aiden Moyer, Caleb Hays, Colton Bettenbrock and Andrew Hipp.

Ellsworth volleyball player nets milestone

On Sept. 15, The Ellsworth volleyball team celebrated junior Kylan Turnipseed reaching 1,000 career assists in the matches against Little River.

Ellsworth football undefeated in regular season

The Ellsworth Bearcat football team was undefeated in regular season play — something Ellsworth High Jr./Sr. High School Head Football Coach Josh Homolka said Ellsworth hadn’t done since 1984.

But the record tells just part of the story. Ellsworth held their opponents scoreless in four of their six games. Against Beloit, the Bearcats won 14-6, Oct. 7 at Russell, the Bearcats won by 3 points, 18-15.

“They’ve been running the same plays for three years,” Homolka said, “so we’re pretty efficient at what we do, and we can add things. We’re pretty fast and we’re pretty physical on offense and defense, so it’s been a big deal.”

The season ended Nov. 4 when the Bearcats fell to Kingman 33-6 during the final round of the playoffs.

Lady Os place at state tennis

The Central Plains High School tennis team competed at the state tournament this weekend in Topeka. Oiler No. 1 singles player Kyla Metro placed third.

Bearcat Byron Johnson competes at state meet

On Oct. 22, Byron Johnson became the only member of the Ellsworth Jr./Sr. High School cross country team to qualify for state after the team competed at the 3A regional championships hosted by Goodland High School.

“This will be his first trip to the historic course at Lawrence, a trip he’s been working for in-season and off-season for years, and the work has finally paid off,” Coach Eric Coonrod said.

Johnson was the first EJSHS runner to cross the line, finishing in sixth place overall. He advanced to the boys’ 3A state championship Oct. 29. in Lawrence.

At state, Johnson took 30th place out of 103 runners during the 3A State Cross Country Championships at the historic Rim Rock Farm north of Lawrence.

“Byron ran strong mile times, and ran one of his best times of the season with a 17:13, not easy on one of the most challenging courses in the state,” Coonrod said. “Finishing in the top half, or even top third, of the best 3A runners in the state is quite an accomplishment.”